Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-21

Senator stan ford States Their Relations
With the Government.
Copyright 1887, by ac California associated Press
WASHINGTON, December 20th.-The Presi-
dent has not yet made public the reports of
the Pacific Railways Investigating Com
mission which were submitted TO him
There are two reports, one signed by Messrs
Anderson and Littler, and the other by
Pattison, and it has been ID matter of spec
ulation as to their contents. Wall street
spectators have had agents here endeavor-
ing to learn the nature of the reports, and
what, if any, recommendations the Presi-
dent will make when he sends them to
Congress.
Senator Stanford, who returned to Wash.
ington from New York last night, saws that
it is pretty generally understood that the
majority report will favor an amicable set
tlement of the differences between the COM
panies and the Government, giving the
former long time in which to settle their
Indebtedness. Pattisons's report is under
stood to be in favor of sharp measure to
compel the companies to meet their obliga-
tons when they become due.
WHAT THE SENATOR SAYS.
Stanford, in a conversation with the
California Associated Press correspon-
dent tonight, said: 81 have not seen
the report of the majority of the Commits
sion, recommending-as it is said-a set
tlement between the Government and the
companies on long time, but if it is what l
understand it to be it will not be satlsfac-
| tory to the railroad companies. There are
| certain equities between the Government
and the Pacific roads. This Commission
| was chosen to ascertain these equities, and
| II did not do so. What we want is to have
the equities determined by judicial tri-
bunal. We cannot sue the Government,
but the Government can sue US, and that is
| what it should do if it thinks we are seek
| ing to evade our obligations Among the
equities involved are the following:
MILLIONS SAVED THE GOVERNMENT.
"We completed our road seven years
| earlier than required by contract. and bv
| so doing-according to the Government S
| accOunts-we saved the Government
| 81 100000 year for seven years, or $40
| 900 600. This estimate is made on what
| the Government service west of the Missouri
river cost prior to the completion of the
roads and subsequent thereto. The sacrifice
made by the companies on Government
| bonds received, by completing the road be-
| fore The expiration of the time specified in
| the contract, nearly amounted to 7,000. 900.
| We took the bonds while they were below
par. Had we only done the work in con-
| tract time, the bonds would have been
above par. The Government charges
six per cent. interest on its bonds,
and that makes the interest charged on
| 81 100000 of bonds amount to nearly
$40 100000 at maturity. BY the completion
of competing roads, which the Govern
ment aided, $37 100000 of traffic has been
| diverted from the Central and Union Pacific
lines.
| The Government has not paid US for
services in the same way that other lines
of transportation have been paid Prior to
| the completion of the road the Government
paid Wells, Fargo & Co. $4,000 per
annum for carrying, not to exceed l ZOO
pounds of mail matter daily, distance OF
500 miles. The railroad company gave
the Government car with a capacity of
eighteen tons, and extra cars when necess-
ary, and transportation for mail agents,
and not one year has there even been paid
81 ,000, 900 for this service.
ALL THE COMPANY WANTS
Is an investigation of the equities as well
as the law in the case, by a regularly con-
stituted judicial tribunal, and we are will
ing to abide by the result. There is no
necessity for anyone to be worried over the
M attar Elauan will